Saddened Past, Loving Future Chapter One

Kenshin hung the last of the laundry on the line before letting out a happy sigh. In the distance he could hear Kaoru and Yahiko arguing and then frowned. He took his attention to Suzume and Ayame who were playing hide-and-seek. He chuckled at how carefree they looked. Hearing his chuckle, the two girls looked at him in confusion. Seeing that he was done with the laundry, they quickly ended their game and ran towards him.

"Uncle-Ken, do you want to play ball?" asked Suzume who now had a medium sized pink ball in her hands. Ayame stood beside her with a look of eager in her eyes.

"Sure. I would love to play, that I would," answered Kenshin happily. As he played ball with the children, he could feel Sanosuke's gaze. As he threw the ball for the children to go get, he met eyes with the former street-fighter and smiled. Sanosuke blushed when Kenshin turned away to catch the ball that was thrown at him.

"Kenshin?" Kaoru called from the inside the dogo. "May I ask you to go get some tofu for me?"

"Oro?" said Kenshin as the ball hit his head which made the girls giggle. "Alright, I can go and get it for you, that I can." Kaoru smiled and blushed before Yahiko told her to stop hanging around. She glared at him before thanking Kenshin and going back to training Yahiko.

Kenshin threw the ball one more time before he picked up his sakabatou and let it rest at his side. He turned and walked out of the dogo, not even sensing Sanosuke watching him.

"Sanosuke, what's up with you? You don't seem to be your normal, stupid, rooster-head self," said Megumi which startled him.

"Damnit, kitsune-girl, do you have to scare me like that!" yelled Sanosuke angreily.

"Awe, poor little, Rooster-head," giggled Megumi.

"DON'T CALL ME ROOSTER-HEAD, DAMNIT!" replied Sanosuke.

"Oh, hello Megumi-san," said Kaoru happily. Megumi took her attention off the angrey Sano and gave Kaoru a mischievous smile. "Sanosuke, why are you all upset?"

"I am sick of that damn fox-girl," answered Sanosuke as he got up. Sticking his hands in his pockets, he stormed out of the dogo.

"Hmm, wonder what has hispeck all out of whack?" asked Megumi innocently.

"He has been that way, all day. He was sitting at that very same spot watching Kenshin do his chores," answered Kaoru.

"Ah, don't worry about him," said Yahiko as he watched the sweat off his face. "Ugly, should I get ready for your nasty food or for the Akabeko?"

Kaoru glared at Yahiko. "Who are you calling ugly?"

"You, ugly," answered Yahiko with a smirk which made her growl.

"YOU AREN'T GETTING ANYTHING TONIGHT!" yelled Kaoru, whacking the boy upside the head.

"Well, that didn't take up too much of my time, that it didn't. I will be able to warm up, Kaoru-san's bath," said Kenshin happily carring the tofu. He stopped and looked, noticing Sanosuke was coming towards him. He let a smile form on his face when Sanosuke was infront of him. "Hello there, Sano. Oro, what is the matter? You don't seem happy, that you don't."

"That damn kitsune-girl is over at the dogo and I felt the need to get out of there," grumbled Sano.

"Oh, Megumi-san. Well it is nice she came over, that she did," replied Kenshin.

"Do you have to be happy about everything?" asked Sanosuke.

"Well, I don't see why I shouldn't be happy about Megumi-san's arrival," said Kenshin.

"I swear, I can't depend for you to be angry with me can I?" asked Sanosuke letting out a heavy sigh. Kenshin only gave him his normal smile which made Sano smile in return. "So, I see you got some tofu for the Missy."

"Yes, I did," said Kenshin taking attention to the burden he was carring. While Kenshin did this, Sano could sense a bit of sadness in his voice which was unusual for the rurouni.

He blinked a couple of time before asking, "Kenshin, something bothering you?"

Kenshin looked up at him before shaking his head. Sano could tell in those violet eyes there was something bothering him but he didn't want to pursue it further. But still, there was something in the back of his mind that was telling him to find out, telling for his best friend's sake.

"Lets head home shall we? Kaoru-san will be worried if we don't hurry," Kenshin said, taking a step foreward but then stopped. Dropping the tofu, Kenshin collapsed leaving Sano dumbstruck.

"Kenshin! KENSHIN!" Sano yelled as he picked up Kenshin's uncouncious body and shook him gently. "Damnit, what is wrong with you? Kenshin, wake up, Kenshin!" When there was no reply from the rurouni, Sano quickly picked him up and rushed towards the dogo.

Author's Notes: Wee, I finished the chapter. Hopefully I will get plenty of reviews for chapter two. PLEASE REVIEW!